Good morning. It’s Thursday October 26, 2017 and this is your your first early morning Digital briefing.

TODAY’S CODEBREAKER

Sandbox: In computer security, a sandbox is a mechanism for separating running programs in an effort to prevent software vulnerabilities or system failures from spreading. “Sandboxing” techniques are often used to execute untrusted or untested codes or programs.

JUST IN…

Roku may be best known for its own hardware, but according to Variety, the company plans to expand its horizons. The trade pub, which spoke to three sources with knowledge of the plans, reports that Roku intends to integrate video playback directly into its mobile app for iOS and Android devices. (At the moment, the app’s most important function is to serve as a remote control for Roku devices.) The move would place programming from Roku’s content partners onto its competitors’ devices, instead of its own. According to the report, it’s still unclear whether Roku plans to make content available on streaming boxes like Apple TV or Amazon’s Fire TV. You can learn more here.

Patreon wants to be more than just an individual crowd-funding site. The service, which artists and creators use to generate funding directly from fans, is adding support for new plugins: Creators will now be able to perform basic Patreon transactions outside of the company’s main website. For instance, patrons will now able to sign up for memberships and Patreon-exclusive content directly through WordPress-powered websites. Other plugins will earn patrons access to chatrooms on the gaming-focused chat app Discord, or to exclusive forums on the Discourse platform. Other plugins, including one for Slack, are on the way. All of the new payment systems are based on Patreon’s existing API. It’s the first time the company has allowed artists to take their Patreon transactions to other parts of the web.

In a new update to Twitter’s development kit, iOS developers will now be able to let users view Twitter videos without leaving the apps they’re using. In addition, the company announced that it’s introducing a new API to let developers control volume and playback programmatically; the API will let developers loop video clips or activate activate muted videos when users scroll. No word yet on when such updates might be available to Android developers.

Qello, the white-label streaming platform that also owns the SVOD service Qello Concerts, has merged with 8sian Media, a company that specializes in video content syndication services and video publishing tech. In particular, 8sian Media is focused on distributing Asian content in the U.S., as well as bringing U.S. content to Asia. The newly combined company will simply be called Qello. The company also plans to retain all of 8sian’s employees, as well as its offices in Asia. 8sian CEORex Wong will serve as CEO of the combined company; Qello founder and CEO Brian Lisi, will now serve as Chief Technology Officer. The merger’s financial terms weren’t disclosed.

OTT + SVOD

Sports-heavy streaming service fuboTV has expanded into two new markets. The service is now active with the affiliates WFXT Boston and WSVN Miami. The new launches came in time for game one of the World Series.

INFLUENCERS

Digital entertainment company BroadbandTV partnered with three popular YouTube creators. The news was first reported by Variety. Yousef Erakat (better known as FouseyTube), Bart Baker, and H3H3 Productions (the husband and wife team of Ethan and Hila Klein) have all signed with the company. BroadbandTV will develop new distribution and business opportunities for the creators, such as subscription-based streaming services, apps, merchandise, and ad-supported video platforms.

BRAND INSIDER

If a Lyft review includes the word “strange,” that’s a usually a bad sign. But season two of Netflix’s Stranger Things is debuting tomorrow, and that changes everything. The ride-sharing company is letting Los Angeles and Philadelphia customers opt for a Stranger Things-themed ride that sounds downright terrifying: Creepy effects will abound, including slugs, lights that turn on and off, static sounds, and even an entity that appears to be stuck in the ceiling as it reaches its hand down. The rides will be available on Friday and Saturday from 4 PM to 9 PM. Lyft users just have to pick “Strange Mode” on the app. It’s the first time that Netflix and Lyft have partnered on a marketing activation. For a closer look at Lyft’s “Strange Mode,” check out the Short Form Spotlight section.

PROGRAMMING

Sports Illustrated is launching Next Question!, a live weekly sports trivia show set to run on the publication’s Facebook page. Hosted by SI’s Mitch Gildich and featuring trivia battles between SI staffers, the show debuts today at 12:30 PM ET. Sports Illustrated is a Time Inc. property.

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL AWARDS

Tuesday is the deadline to register for the Cynopsis Digital Awards Luncheon. Join us for the ultimate celebration of digital execs and top industry innovators on November 10 in NYC. 41 Digital “It List” Honorees, 71 Model D Finalists and 7 celebrity presenters make for a one-of-a-kind reception with UNLIMITED networking opportunities. Register now (last year’s event sold out)!

RESEARCH

U.S. advertising revenue saw very little year-over-year growth in Q3 of 2017, according to a new report from Standard Media Index ( SMI). SMI found that third-quarter media spending was up only .06%. (September was 1% higher.) SMI also reported that the first nine months of 2017, taken together, saw 2.3% more U.S. ad spending than the same period last year. Digital advertising continues to be the biggest driver of growth, seeing 11% year-over-year growth in Q3 and 5% growth in September.

MEASURING UP

Tubular Top Ten Global Sponsored Videos Monday, October 16, 2017 – Sunday, October 22, 2017. Based on Tubular Video Ratings measuring 8 million video publishers, 3 billion videos, and 400 million viewers. Sponsored videos are ranked by V3, total views in the first three days after upload.

SHAREABLEE SOCIAL TV RATINGS: Top 10 U.S. Primetime and Streaming Shows for October 16 – October 22. Based on Shareablee’s Video Power Index (VPI), which combines viewing, consumer interactions and audience scale across all active platforms, and includes the video performance of primetime and streaming shows.

Source: Shareablee Inc. The total actions metric includes the total volume of post-level likes, shares, favorites, retweets and comments across social platforms.

Tweet of the week: @Michaela_Baker: This peak into the past is genius @shondarhimes !!! #Scandal

– People couldn’t stop talking about how crazy the season eight premiere of AMC’s The Walking Dead was, with fans expressing shock over Rick in particular, especially about an apparent “flash-forward” where he’s depicted as an old man.

– Thousands of congratulatory messages were sent when the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 4-0 in Game 7 of the ALCS (broadcast on Fox Sports 1), sending the Astros to the World Series.

– Viewers found the new VH1 horror-reality show Scared Famous to be quite funny, with contestant Safaree Samuels prompting laughs in particular.

– During a recent episode of Scandal on ABC, fans applauded creator/writer/showrunner Shonda Rhimes for her storytelling brilliance.

– Canvs

EXECUTIVE MOVES

If there’s a prize for executive turnover, Amazon Studios will surely claim it. Heather Schuster, the former Ryan Seacrest Productions exec who joined Amazon as a senior creative executive in August, has been named as Head of Unscripted Programming. Schuster was promoted the same day that Conrad Riggs, her predecessor, was let go. The news comes the same week that Joe Lewis, Amazon’s chief of comedy and drama, left the company – reportedly while under scrutiny for his behavior toward women. Lewis was replaced with Amazon Studios exec Sharon Tal Yguado. And then, of course, there’s former Amazon Studios Chief Roy Price, who resigned last week in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. Amazon Studios COO Albert Cheng has since taken over as Price’s interim replacement.

Audio streaming service TuneIn has named Holly Lim as its new Chief Financial Officer. Lim will oversee finance, legal, HR, workplace, and corporate development. She’ll be based in TuneIn’s San Francisco headquarters. Lim joins TuneIn from Soundcloud, where she served as CFO.

TRIVIA

Which music and TV star plays the character of Lennie Dale, opposite Woody Allen, in the Amazon original series Crisis in Six Scenes? (Email trivia@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and state.)

The Cynopsis TV Awards salutes excellence in national TV programming, from writing and directing to casting and hosting. In addition, we recognize outstanding achievement across teams, platforms, and overall merit. With over 40 categories to choose from, it covers marketing campaigns, casting, content, actors and more (click here for the full list). Entries will be open from now until November 10, followed by an awards gala in February in NYC.

Above, we mentioned the Stranger Things-themed rides that Lyft will be offering to Los Angeles and Philadelphia customers tomorrow and Saturday. Want to see what those rides look like? Just click here.

In Cynopsis’ latest webinar: Solving the Digital Ad Measurement Challenge, George Ivie, CEO & Executive Director for Media Rating Council, will moderate the discussion with speakers including Bill Tucker, EVP for the Association of National Advertisers (ANA); and Louis Jones, EVP, Media & Data Practice for the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4 A’s). Join us on Monday, November 13th from 12:30 to 2pm ET.

JOB OPENING: VP, SALES/SPORTLOGiQ/Montreal, QC: Bringing a new level of analysis to the sports statistics market using advanced computer vision. Five+ years of exp. in software industry/technology/sales management w/ business degree. Passion for hockey a plus! Full info/apply HERE(10/26)

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